The Best Frozen Moments From the 2015 VMAs
The 2015 Video Music Awards: What a wonderful mess. Did it happen? So it seems. Were there highs and low? Definitely. Was any of it real? It’s hard to tell. Either way, through the chaos there were moments — beautiful, mundane, transcendent moments — of people making funny faces when they didn’t realize the camera was on them, or sometimes even when they did. Here are those moments, preserved for eternity.
When you're on the VMAs and get nervous for a second that you misplaced your vagina. Nope, there it is.
"Can you double-check?"
I don't know who's more thirsty here: Jaden, or all the nobodies a few rows back tweeting during Nicki's performance. "I'm like basically sitting...
I don't know who's more thirsty here: Jaden, or all the nobodies a few rows back tweeting during Nicki's performance. "I'm like basically sitting next to Justin Bieber at the #VMAs, y'all. #Blessed."
It's Taylor Swift: Are you happy now? they both thought, with very different tones.
Nicki and Taylor's performance was an inside job.
But F it, we'll take it.
You can tell at least one of those extras was thinking, What do I do with my arms? I never thought about that before. Get that man in the red shi...
You can tell at least one of those extras was thinking, What do I do with my arms? I never thought about that before. Get that man in the red shirt two mugs, stat.
Macklemore finally did this, after years and years of the rap community calling him the Swiffer of Hip-Hop.
"Wheee, a slide. Is this what an actual childhood feels like?"
After last night, we learned:
A$AP Rocky is a look-at-the-stage guy.
Miguel is a look-at-the-Jumbotron guy.
Tori Kelly is that lady.
When you realize you forgot your emotional-support cat and have to get through the night alone, stroking the air.
Bieber predicting how many minutes he'll spend crying later in the show.
Shadow Macklemore is a big Britney Spears fan.
Kim strolls into the selfie like Picasso helping an art student with their shading.
Taylor Swift's seat-filler making good use of her time.
TOO SCARY, MTV. MUCH TOO SCARY.
"I can't feel my face when I'm with you, but I love it, but I love it."
"Can you remind me, do we have to pick up paper towels on the ...
"I can't feel my face when I'm with you, but I love it, but I love it."
"Can you remind me, do we have to pick up paper towels on the way home?"
The moment Mariska Hargitay realized that being in Taylor's squad can sure feel like chaperoning a playdate.
Guess who can feel their face, bro? Or, at least, I think I can: We might just be brains floating in jars with consciousness being uploaded via a comp...
Guess who can feel their face, bro? Or, at least, I think I can: We might just be brains floating in jars with consciousness being uploaded via a computer program, bro.
"You the Weeknd. Me Taylor Swift."
On one hand, some parents will be upset that their kids read the word fuck. On the other, their kids sure learned a lesson about the dangers of using ...
On one hand, some parents will be upset that their kids read the word fuck. On the other, their kids sure learned a lesson about the dangers of using the word.
Nicki is like, The immensity of this moment is hitting me.
Taylor is like, I'm so proud of my best friend.
Miley is like, Look over here, guys, my b...
Nicki is like, The immensity of this moment is hitting me.
Taylor is like, I'm so proud of my best friend.
Miley is like, Look over here, guys, my bra is eyeballs. Isn't that so crazy? Also, I smoke weed.
The VMAs will be remembered for what happens next, but should be remembered for Nicki's pitch-perfect parody of an acceptance speech.
When you have to explain intersectionality to a girl rolling on MDMA.
VMA Producer 1: Do we think keeping Rebel Wilson in frame undermines Nicki's legitimate emotions?
VMA Producer 2: Who are you talking to? I'm just a ...
VMA Producer 1: Do we think keeping Rebel Wilson in frame undermines Nicki's legitimate emotions?
VMA Producer 2: Who are you talking to? I'm just a figment of your imagination. There aren't two producers for this shitshow.
This was an unprofessional time to eat an edible.
Kids, gather 'round, and let me tell you about the time the whole world witnessed history. Well, not exactly history, more like witnessed Tyga drop so...
Kids, gather 'round, and let me tell you about the time the whole world witnessed history. Well, not exactly history, more like witnessed Tyga drop something and look for it.
When your friend shows up to the party wearing head-to-toe leather.
Three days ago, working on the seating chart:
VMA Producer 1: And behind Chrissy Teigen, should we put a teen who's just going to stare at Kim's face...
Three days ago, working on the seating chart:
VMA Producer 1: And behind Chrissy Teigen, should we put a teen who's just going to stare at Kim's face all night?
VMA Producer 2: I hope you realize I don't exist by showtime, or it's going to be a disaster.
The hug that launched 1,000 #squadgoals Instagrams.
"The thing about cameras is you shoot videos with them."
"BRB, y'all, I'm just going to pop over to Burning Man real quick."
Did the store run out of hymen piñatas?
Bieb Man Group.
"Tradition, tradition. Tradition!"
"Do you beliebe? Oh, please, please beliebe. If you beliebe, wherever you are, clap your hands ..." And that's how we brought Justin's caree...
"Do you beliebe? Oh, please, please beliebe. If you beliebe, wherever you are, clap your hands ..." And that's how we brought Justin's career back to life.
Bieber finally getting Natasha Leggero's "Selena Gomez had to fuck you: She is literally the least lucky Selena in all of entertainment history&q...
Bieber finally getting Natasha Leggero's "Selena Gomez had to fuck you: She is literally the least lucky Selena in all of entertainment history" roast joke.
Imagine the conversation Jaden and Jared had. Take a minute.
Cookie really is a great manager.
Back to three days ago, working on the seating chart:
VMA Producer 1: See, even when Kanye and John Legend win an award, this teen, bless her heart, ...
Back to three days ago, working on the seating chart:
VMA Producer 1: See, even when Kanye and John Legend win an award, this teen, bless her heart, will remain fixed on Kim's face.
VMA Producer 2: Maybe you should burn it all to the ground. What if something goes wrong during that scary Weeknd performance? They'll never know who did it. If someone asks, just say the second producer did it. Ha ha ha.
"I'm going to eat a sandwich that's this big, y'all. Woo!"
"HOW DO I REMOVE APPLE WATCH?!"
When we were playing those basement hard-core shows, is this how you pictured our 30s?
I don't think I could've predicted that hat.
Ha ha, good one....
When we were playing those basement hard-core shows, is this how you pictured our 30s?
I don't think I could've predicted that hat.
Ha ha, good one. I love you, man. I'm glad we're on this wild journey together.
"Yeah, MTV was right. This is definitely better than Jay Z."
Stars, they're just like us: They adorably kiss and then have to wipe $6,000 lip gloss off their husbands before they accept lifetime achievement awar...
Stars, they're just like us: They adorably kiss and then have to wipe $6,000 lip gloss off their husbands before they accept lifetime achievement awards on television, just like us."
Is this covered in Between the World and Me?
If we learned anything from last night, it's that Taylor needs more short friends. Sorry, models.
For 12 minutes, the Video Music Awards felt like they actually mattered.
Ugh, the federal debt held by the public will still be around 80 percent of GDP by 2020. What was I thinking?
Kanye's speech accurately told through Taylor reaction shots.
If Kanye's speech wasn't tense enough, it had to be followed by seconds of wondering if he'd leave his buddy hanging.
Just Miley being Q*bert.
Reminder: Don't say shit about Nicki to the Times.
Reminder: Read the first reminder BEFORE your interview.
I've always dreamed of seeing Rita Ora and Emily Ratajkowski dance in front of a facsimile of a Transformer's butthole. Thank you, VMAs.
When some kid on the subway screams his slam poetry in your face while you're trying to read Purity before book club.
Seconds before he covered his mouth with silver spray-paint in hopes of riding on to Valhalla.
When you see in a monitor that you're way taller than your dad and realize you can definitely beat him in one-on-one now.
That's the sound of a Taylor Swift Surprised Face listicle being updated.
Law & Order: Eating Salads Unit.
What did you do at work today, honey?
Oh, you know, I fed the boss tubes for him to stick between Miley's legs so it looked like she was coming on t...
What did you do at work today, honey?
Oh, you know, I fed the boss tubes for him to stick between Miley's legs so it looked like she was coming on the audience. Before that, I had Chipotle for lunch.
If throwing the Times interviewer under the bus earlier in the evening wasn't enough, Miley had one more F you to music journalists up her mouth-sleeve.